FR2810841A1 - Processing and transmitting digital data in mobile telephone network, using two types of SIM Toolkit applications recorded on SIM card of mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

Master applications (30M) are recorded on a distant server (3) with which the mobile terminal (1) communicates. The master applications communicate with the SIM card (2), via mobile terminal circuits (10) and two types of SIM Toolkit applications, called reporter (21) and slave (22), respectively. An Independent claim is also included for an onboard microchip system, esp. SIM smart card.

Description

The invention relates to a method for processing and transmitting digital data over a mobile telephone network.

It applies more particularly to a mobile telephone network conforming to the "GSM" standard (acronym for "Special Group Public Mobile Radio Systems operating in the 900 MHz band).

The invention also relates to an embedded system provided with an electronic chip for implementing the method.

In the context of the invention, the term "network" must be understood in its most general sense. It includes the actual transmission components of the network (radio-transmission subsystems, transmission cables, radio-relay systems, terrestrial "wired" subsystems, etc.), but also all systems connected to the mobile telephony network (base stations , station controllers, switches, directories, etc., and, more generally, all data processing systems and servers connected to the network), including posts, equipment or mobile stations owned by users (subscribers) of the network. mobile phone network.

These devices can be mobile phones or more complex terminals, for example a terminal combining the features of phone and organizer. For simplicity, without limiting in any way the scope of the invention, these devices will be called hereinafter "mobile phones". The mobile phones are equipped, in particular, with an embedded system provided with information processing and storage means, including a functional module known by the abbreviation "SIM" (for "Subscriber Identity Module" or "Module of subscriber identification "). Also for simplicity, it will be assumed hereinafter that the "SIM" module is carried by a smart card. A smart card operating software is also provided (called "OS", for "Operating System").

In the current state of the art, the mobile phones of the "GSM" networks are not only used to telephone, they can also be used to process and send digital data, especially in the form of short messages ("GSM-Data" service). "). These messages typically have a length of 160 or 140 bytes, depending on the applications.

Recently, we have seen the appearance of a standardized technology called "Sim Toolkit". This technology is already part of the complementary services offered by some mobile operators of GSM networks. In practice, a specific piece of software is implemented in the smart card "SIM" of the phone.

This standard allows applications, which run on the smart card ("SIM") mobile phones, to send commands to the associated mobile equipment type display text on the screen of the mobile phone; ask the user to type text as the application's input request the phone call of a number; Request a short message that contains text or data to a server or other phone request the execution of an order on an auxiliary smart card in the mobile equipment; etc. These commands are called "pro-active" commands.

The "SIM Toolkit" standard also allows SIM card applications to respond to the reception of a number of events from mobile equipment. These events are of the application selection type from a command called "MENU" which is a keyboard which are provided with the mobile equipment; receiving a short message to an application or the operating system of the "SIM" smart card; expiration of the programmed time in a timer of the mobile equipment; call request for a telephone number; etc. The features provided by this standard enable the development of a very large number of distinct smart card applications, in order to provide users with so-called value added services ".

For a more detailed description of the "Sim Toolkit" technology, reference will be made to the "GSM 11.14" standard.

In summary, in the current state of the art, the standard "Sim Toolkit" consists of developing applications on the smart card are able to both control the mobile equipment supporting the smart card and also to react to events from this equipment. This standard is now adopted by the majority of manufacturers of mobile devices and smart cards. It is a standard for writing applications that are both powerful and secure.

A "Sim Toolkit" application generally communicates with one or more applications installed on servers via the short message channel. This channel is independent of that of the voice and is standardized by the "GSM" standard. Applications, whether installed on the "SIM" card or on the server, can both send and receive short messages that contain text or data in binary format. (For more information on short messages in point-to-point mode, see the "GSM 03.40" standard) However, and although the number and nature of the aforementioned "value-added" GSM services are <I> a a priori </ I> without limitation, telephone operators and software application developers are constantly hampered by the limitation of resources available on the smart card. Indeed, the two main disadvantages presented by the "Sim Toolkit" technology are 1) the insufficient memory of smart cards to host applications "Sim Toolkit" because they only have a few tens of kilobytes in memory: despite all the optimizations made by highly experienced software application developers, the telephony operators are stumbling over this lack of memory to load and / or run applications "Sim Toolkit" in large numbers and 2) the very high response time smart cards: in fact, it is the smart card, which has less computing power compared to processors of mobile equipment and especially servers, that this technology requires to perform the most complicated calculations , when performing the aforementioned applications.

It is clear that the needs that are being felt go in the opposite direction. Firstly, the telephony operators wish to make available to their subscribers as many additional services as possible. In addition, the operations performed by the smart card must be in a minimum time. The multiplication of available applications, in fact even where this multiplication is possible, may also degrade performance by making the processing time even longer, due to mutual interactions.

Despite significant advances in smart card technology, which have already been seen in recent times and are foreseeable in the near future, the abovementioned limiting factors remain and will remain a major obstacle.

A second standardized technology, called "WAP" (for "Wireless Application Protocol"), has recently been proposed. The purpose of the standard is to enable mobile phone users to access the Internet from their mobile phones over a wireless link. This technology is not without drawbacks.

First of all, it is necessary to install a browser "WAP", specific type, because it has characteristics different from browsers type "WEB" classic. This browser is installed on mobile equipment which certainly has more memory than the smart card, but generally much less than a microcomputer and of course a server. In addition, although this technology has the advantage of allowing access to the Internet, it does not cover all the functionality of "Sim Toolkit" applications. By way of nonlimiting example, a "WAP" application can not, as in the case of "SIM Toolkit" applications, control the telephone calls, In addition, a "WAP" application can not guarantee the same degree of security than that offered by the "Sim Toolkit" applications. Indeed, they use secret keys recorded in smart cards "SIM". For example, a "WAP" application can not request authentication of an application on any server. This is not the only security function of the "SIM" smart card. It also ensures the security and confidentiality of the information transmitted.

To ensure all these functions, the smart card stores a certain number of so-called "sensitive" data, encryption algorithms and associated keys, in particular - the international subscriber number or "IMSI" (for "International Mobile Subscriber Identity" ); - the temporary identity assigned to a mobile station when it is being moved or "TMSI" (for "Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity") - an individual authentication key, an encryption key used to encrypt and decrypt so-called signaling data and traffic on the radio channel and three distinct algorithms for encryption and decryption or key generation; and a number of encryption key sequences or "CKSN" (for "Ciphering Key Sequential Number"), indicating the encryption value above valid to avoid the use of different keys by the mobile station and the network.

The fact that this sensitive information or data is stored in the smart card and that the corresponding processing is performed therein allows for a high degree of security and confidentiality. Finally, in the current state of technology, the cost of mobile devices that support the "WAP" technology remains high, compared to the cost of those who support the "Sim Toolkit" technology.

The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of devices and systems of the known art, some of which have just been recalled, while meeting the needs that are felt.

The aim of the invention is a method for processing and transmitting digital data over a mobile telephone network, in particular to the "GSM" standard making it possible to provide users of mobile telephones on this network, all the services can offer with the applications conforming to the technology "Sim Toolkit" but by overcoming the limitations of memory and performance encountered when developing applications on smart cards, at least to a large extent.

To this end, the invention advantageously takes advantage of the fact that the applications conforming to the "SIM Toolkit" technology can in particular send short messages and also undertake the execution of instructions, following the receipt of other short messages to them. intended.

The mobile telephone network architecture according to the invention is an architecture in which applications "SIM Toolkit" 1) inform applications installed on at least one remote server, connected to said telephony network, the arrival of events from mobile equipment: these applications will be referred to hereinafter as "Reporter Sim Toolkit applications"; and 2) execute commands and instructions following the request for applications implemented on said servers: these applications will be referred to hereafter as "slave Sim Toolkit applications".

In this way, it is possible to delegate the execution of heavy processes, large consumers of computer resources, which are carried out, in the known art, on the "SIM" smart card, to applications implemented on these servers. The aforementioned servers do not have <I> a priori </ I> intrinsic limitations, as in the case of smart cards "SIM" * as regards the amount of available memory, nor as regards the computing power. The number of "SIM Toolkit" applications available via a "SIM" smart card (and therefore the number of services offered) can then be greatly increased, while allowing a high speed of processing.

Furthermore, the security-related features and confidentiality remaining confined in the "SIM" smart card, as in the known art, a high level of quality of service continues to be guaranteed.

The main subject of the invention is therefore a method for transmitting and processing digital data over a mobile telephone network, said network comprising at least one mobile equipment and a remote server comprising data processing and data storage means. communicating with each other via said mobile telephone network, said mobile equipment cooperating with an onboard electronic chip system comprising data processing and data storage means for memorizing fewer pieces of software of a capable type, while both, controlling said mobile equipment by issuing determined commands and responding to events from said equipment by executing instructions associated with said events, in order to achieve features associated with at least one predetermined application, characterized in that it comprises the implementation of least a first piece of particular software, of a type called protractor, stored in said data storage means of said embedded electronic chip system, and the implementation of at least one associated piece of software stored in said storage means of data from one of said remote servers, in that said piece of reporter-type software retransmits to said associated software piece data characteristic of said events received from said mobile equipment and in that that associated piece of software executes, via said information processing means of said remote server, upon receipt of said characteristic data, all or part of said instructions associated with one of said predetermined applications and retransmits results of said execution to said mobile equipment and / or said embedded system chip electronic.

The invention also relates to an embedded system with an electronic chip cooperating with a mobile equipment connected to said mobile network.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: - Figure 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the main steps of the activation of a "Sim Toolkit" application located on a remote server by an application, according to aspect of the invention of a first type called "protractor", located on a smart card "SIM"; FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the interrelation according to the invention between an application located on a remote server, of a type known as "master", and a "SIM Toolkit" application, located on a smart card. SIM "of a second type called" slave ", according to another aspect of the invention; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the main steps of the method according to the invention of sending a "pro-active" command conforming to the "GSM 11.14" standard; FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining, for a particular example, the main steps of exchanging data and commands between a "SIM Toolkit" application located on a "SIM" smart card and an application located on a remote server, according to the known art; and FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining, for this particular example, the main steps of exchanging data and commands between a "SIM Toolkit" application located on a "SIM" smart card and an application located on a remote server. according to the method of the invention. A preferred exemplary embodiment of a mobile telephone network architecture according to the invention will now be described in greater detail.

As has been indicated, according to one of the features of the invention, it is delegated the execution of heavy treatments, which are carried out in the known art on the "SIM" card, to applications implemented on one or more remote servers connected to the network.

According to another characteristic of the invention, there are two main categories of "Sim Toolkit" applications that have been called "Applications Sim Toolkit Rapporteurs" and "Sim Toolkit Slave Applications", respectively, both implemented on the cards. chip "SIM".

The two types of application will now be described in more detail.

 "Sim Toolkit" application <U> reporter </ U> A "SIM Toolkit" application reacts primarily to events originating from the mobile phone, or more generally from the mobile equipment of the subscriber. These events arrive at the smart card "SIM" in a command known as the English name "Envelope". For example, the "Envelope" command may contain the "Menu Selection" event, with the selection of the "Sim Toolkit" application. This event therefore makes it possible to choose an application in a menu that is displayed on visualization means provided with the mobile phone. A more detailed description of this command can be found in the "GSM 11.14" standard.

Mobile equipment has no knowledge of the applications on the servers. To react an application on a server to the events defined in the "Sim Toolkit" standard, it is necessary to couple it with a "SIM Toolkit" application installed on the "SIM" card, which will be called "application" below. Reporter Toolkit Sim ". Mobile equipment sees the reporter application as if it were a classic "Sim Toolkit" application. He has no knowledge of the corresponding application located on a server. From this point of view, there is total transparency.

The reporting application is part of the "SIM" card to listen for events to which its corresponding application implemented on a server must react. As soon as the reporter application receives an event from the mobile equipment, it prepares a short message to its corresponding application. This short message contains all the data characterizing the event received. Its sending is carried out in a practical manner by order of the type "pro-active control" above.

The corresponding application of the server receives the short message. This message informs him of the arrival of an event coming from the mobile equipment. She then begins processing the receipt of this event. This treatment may consist, for example, in connecting to a "WEB" site. It can also become an application called master of another application called slave implemented on the smart card "SIM". It can therefore control the slave application, so that it sends "pro-active" commands to the mobile equipment and also to invoke methods stored in libraries installed on the smart card "SIM".

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating schematically the main steps of the activation of a "Sim Toolkit" application 30M located on a remote server 3 by a "Sim Toolkit Rapporteuse" application 21 located on a "SIM" smart card. 2 of a mobile equipment 1. The remote server 3 and the mobile equipment 1 of the subscriber <I> Ab </ I> are both connected to a mobile network RT (not explicitly shown). This network, well known to the skilled person, and conventional in itself, does not require any modification that would be due to the method of the invention. It follows that, <I> a priori, </ I> all the networks according to the known art are suitable, which represents a further advantage of the invention. It is therefore not necessary to further describe such a network and its various components. We can refer profitably, as a non-limiting example, to the article by Jean CELLMER, entitled "Cellular Networks, GSM System", published in the "Techniques of the Engineer", Volume TE 7364, November 1999, pages 1 to 23.

The mobile equipment 1, for example a portable telephone set, comprises conventional electronic circuits (memories, processor, etc.) 10. These can be coupled to a "SIM" smart card 2 with the aid of a reader ( not shown). The "SIM" smart card 2 also comprises electronic circuits 20, in particular a processor and memory means in which "SIM Toolkit" applications may be recorded which will be called conventional (not shown), because they are in themselves common to the known art, thus or more applications "Sim Toolkit" rapporteurs 21 compliant with one of the features of the invention. In FIG. 1, to illustrate the process simply, a single application has been shown, outside the circuits 20 of the "SIM" smart card 2. In reality, this application 21 is stored, like the applications of the type classic, in the memory means of the smart card 2.

The aforementioned steps are as follows (symbolized by arrows in solid lines in FIG. 1) F1) the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1 send an "envelope" type command to the circuits 20 of the "SIM" smart card 2 this command "Envelope" contains one of the events provided by the aforementioned GSM 11.14 standard; F2) the circuits 20 of the "SIM" card 2 send this event to a "Sim Toolkit" reporter application 21 able to respond to it; F3) the "Sim Toolkit" reporter application 21 sends the same event, in a short message, to a corresponding application 30M located in the server 3 which will process it via the network RT.

For reasons which will be explained below, the application 30M will be called "master application". Application "Sim Toolkit" <U> slave </ U> In a manner known per se, an application "Sim Toolkit" known art may in particular a) send orders "pro-active" compliant with the standard "GSM 11.14" to mobile equipment: it can, for example, ask mobile equipment to display text; b) send commands conforming to the "GSM 11.11" standard mentioned above to the operating system of the "SIM" smart card, without going through the mobile equipment; and c) request the execution of methods stored in libraries implemented on the smart card "SIM": it can for example call a method of the smart card "SIM" to request the encryption of a message using of a secret key stored this card.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the applications implemented on remote servers have these features. It is thus possible to delegate to them the processing which is carried out, in the known art, by resorting to a conventional "Sim Toolkit" application implemented on the smart card.

For an application implemented on the remote server 3 to perform these operations, it is necessary that it can communicate with a "SIM Toolkit" application implemented on smart card "SIM" 2. It then sends commands to the latter application who executes them. The applications implemented on the "Master Applications and Sim Toolkit" remote servers installed on the "SIM" "Application Sim Toolkit Slaves" remote server will be referred to below.

Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating schematically the interrelationship between these two types of applications.

A "Master" application 30M sends a command (solid line in FIG. 2) to a "Sim Toolkit slave" application 22. This last application executes the command, then responds to the "Master" application 30M, returning the result to it of the order (discontinuous line) after treatment.

We will now describe in detail how a "Master" application 30M can send commands of types a) c) above.

<U> Sending a "pro-active" command conforming to the standard </ U> "GSM <U> 11.14" </ U> The main steps of the method according to the invention are explained below, with reference to the FIG. 3 diagram a) a master application 30M prepares a "pro-active" command so that it is executed by the circuits 10 of a mobile device 1 it includes it in data of a short message destined for a "SIM Toolkit" slave application 22 (via the circuits 10 mobile equipment 1, on which the "pro-active" command is executed) - arrows F'1 and F'2 in FIG. 3 -; b) the application "SIM Toolkit" slave 22 analyzes the data of the received short message: it understands that the master application 30M asks it to send the command "pro-active" to the circuits 10 of its mobile equipment 1, it then transfers this command to the mobile equipment 1 and hangs waiting for a response back - arrow F'3 -; c) the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1 receive the command "pro active": they execute it and send a response to the card "SIM" 2, in the form of a command commonly called "Terminal Response" - arrow F'4 -, this command containing the result of the execution of the command "pro-active" by the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1 (for example, if the "pro-active" command consists in asking to put under -tension an auxiliary smart card, not shown, on the mobile equipment 1, the result sent in the command "Terminal Response" contains a sequence of bytes which is the response of a reset of the auxiliary card); d) the application "Sim Toolkit" slave 22 which was blocked after sending the command "pro-active", is released after receiving the command "Terminal Response" above; e) the application "SIM Toolkit" slave 22 prepares a short message containing the result of the command "pro-active" found in the command "Terminal Response" from the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1; f) the application "SIM Toolkit" slave 22 sends this short message in a "pro-active" command, destined for the master application 30M, via the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1 - arrow F'5 -; g) the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1 transfer the short message to the master application 30M - arrow F'6; and h) the master application 30M receives it and processes the response of the "pro-active" command that it has previously sent.

<U> Sending a non-pro-active command, that is, conforming to </ U> <U> standard </ U> "GSM <U> 11.11" </ U> Master application 30M (FIG. 3) can send "GSM 11.11" commands to the "SIM" smart card 2 according to two different methods, these two methods being able to be used indifferently.

<U> Method 1 </ U> a) a master application 30M prepares a command according to the "GSM 11.11" standard, intended for a "Sim Toolkit" slave application 22 implemented on the "SIM" smart card 2: it sends it in a short message, via the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1; b) the application "SIM Toolkit" slave 22 analyzes the data of the received short message: it transmits the command found in this message to the operating system 23 of the "SIM" smart card 2; c) the operating system 23 of the "SIM" smart card executes the command that comes from the application "SIM Toolkit" slave 22 and returns a response to this command to this application 22; d) the application "SIM Toolkit" slave 22 prepares a short message having as destination a corresponding master application 30M, implemented on the remote server 3: this message contains the result of the command "GSM 11.11" and is sent by the application slave to the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1, in a "pro-active" command; e) the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1 transfer the short message to the address of the recipient, indicated in the message itself, that is to say the master application 30M; and f) the master application 30M receives it and processes the received response. <U> Method 2 </ U> The master application 30, implemented on the remote server 3, sends a "GSM 11.11" command directly in a short message to the operating system 23 of the "SIM" smart card, according to standards "GSM 03.40" and "GSM 03.48".

The advantage of this solution is its simplicity because it does not require the presence of a "Sim Toolkit" slave application, as in the case of method 1.

On the other hand, the disadvantage of method 2 is that very few "SIM" smart card operating systems fully implement this functionality. In general, an application of a server can send a command scenario in a short message to be executed, but the "SIM" smart card does not return the result of the command. If, for example, the application implemented on the server needs to know the contents of a file on the smart card "SIM", it will not be able to, on the majority of smart cards "SIM".

<U> Calling a function of a smart card library </ U> "SIM" As mentioned, a "SIM Toolkit" application may need to request the execution of a function included in a library of the "SIM" smart card (operation c) mentioned above). There are two main categories of functions in a smart card "SIM" 1) functions that call in their parameters to at least one secret key stored in the smart card: these functions are used to encrypt, decrypt, sign or verify one signature ; and 2) functions that, on the contrary, do not use secret keys. The functions of the first category can not be deported to a server if we want to maintain a high degree of security, as it was recalled. A slave application 22 (FIG. 3) must be able to call them following a request from the master application 30M.

A convention must exist between the slave application 22 and the master application 30M to enable the latter to perform encryption / decryption and signature operations with secret keys of the "SIM" smart card 2.

For example, the master application 30M sends a message to the slave application 22 in which it indicates the nature of the cryptology function to be performed (for example an encryption using the algorithm known under the acronym "DES" , for "Data Encryption System"). It also indicates the references of the key to use, stored in the smart card "SIM" 2 and the message to be encrypted. The slave application 22 calls the appropriate encryption function and returns result to the master application 30M.

For the second category of functions, it is possible to use the same method as that used for the first category, but, according to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, these functions are implemented directly on a remote server 3. The advantage of this solution is that the processing is done without any need for connection, on a machine <I> a priori </ I> much more powerful than the smart card "SIM" 2.

According to one of the features of the invention, part of the "Sim Toolkit" applications is implemented directly on one or more remote servers 3. To ensure easy migration of these "SIM Toolkit" applications from smart cards " SIM ", it is also necessary to implement all the associated functions found in libraries of the smart card" SIM ".

To fix ideas, if we consider cards called "Java" (registered trademark), these functions are constituted by "APIs Javacard" of "APIs GSM 03.19", as well as "APIs" called "owners", it is to say specific. "Java" is an object oriented programming language developed by the company "Sun Microsystems lnc." and "APIs" are programmable interfaces to applications. The language "java allows in particular to develop short applications known under the acronym" applet "(" applets ")." Sim Toolkit "applications can be made based" applets ".

By these provisions of the invention, it is possible to ensure that an existing application "Sim Toolkit" technology, which runs in the known art on a smart card "SIM", will also run on remote server, without the need to change a line of code, which is an additional advantage of the invention.

It has been assumed up to this point that so-called short message technology (that is, conform to the "GSM 03.40" standard) was implemented as a transport technology. The use of this technology is advantageous because 1) it is widespread today in networks "GSM"; and 2) it is available among the "pro active" events and commands of the "Sim Toolkit" standard (ie compliant with the "GSM 11.14" standard).

However, it must be clear that it is possible to implement many other transport technologies on wireless transmission links that exist between a "SIM" smart card and a remote server, technologies currently available or that will be in the future The mechanisms of the "Sim Toolkit" applications slaves and rapporteurs defined above will not require modifications, which ensures a long-lasting process according to the invention.

In the mechanism of the "Sim Toolkit" slave and master applications, the "Sim Toolkit" slave application was assumed to be completely slave. It is possible to envisage, while remaining within the scope of the invention, slave "Sim Toolkit" applications that also possess a certain "intelligence". This type of application, which we can call "hybrid" is then able to both obey a master application and perform local processing autonomously. Indeed, a "Sim Toolkit" application, even of slave type, continues to possess the possibilities inherent to the classic "Sim Toolkit" applications.

Similarly, it is possible to add a similar type of functionality, that is to say a certain "intelligence" to the reporter applications.

It is found that the fact of deporting application functionalities of a "SIM" smart card to a remote server increases the traffic on the network and can have, under certain unfavorable conditions, significant consequences on response times. , the protocol speed of short messages is low.

Also, in practice, it is most often preferred "Sim Toolkit" applications that are both slaves and autonomous, and / or "Sim Toolkit" applications that are both reporting and autonomous, it minimizes the negative impact of the aforementioned traffic increase.

Practically also, we seek to find a compromise between the use of resources of the smart card "SIM" and the sending of short messages that can be detrimental in terms of performance.

It should also be noted that authentications between the "SIM Toolkit" applications implemented on the "SIM" smart card, whether they are slaves or reporters, and applications implemented directly on a server must take place. They can be made respecting the "GSM 03.48" standard.

This standard also provides for the encryption of certain information that is transported during exchanges between a "SIM" smart card and a remote server. In general, a master application must communicate with several slave applications. To do this, it is advantageous to use the so-called Threads technique when implementing the "APIs" on the servers.

In the current state of the art, the "SIM" smart cards, of the "Java" type mentioned above, which implement the "GSM 03.19" standard, do not know how to send an order to mobile devices without going through a known object class. under the name "sim.toolkit.ProactiveHandler". When a slave "Sim Toolkit" application receives a "pro active" command sent by a master application, it must rebuild it using methods of an object class known as "ProactiveHandler". We see that it is therefore necessary to "perform all the work prepared by the server that sent the command before sending a" pro-active "command to the mobile equipment.

In order that the mechanism of the slave and master applications, according to one of the characteristics of the invention, retains all its advantages, a function that only sends the mobile equipment to the mobile equipment is advantageously implemented on the "SIM" smart card. "pro-active" command from any array of bytes. The "Sim Toolkit" slave application can then accept the "pro-active" command received, command that was prepared and sent by the master application. It then sends it to the mobile equipment without having to perform any additional processing. <U> Example of practical realization </ U> We will now describe in more detail an example of practical embodiment with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

It is assumed that it is desired to access n services implemented on a server of short messages. These services will be called * after, arbitrarily, Service <I> 1, Service 2, ..., </ I> Service <I> n. </ I> It is assumed that "Sim Toolkit" applications are carried out at "Java" applet base.

The development of such an application with the standard "Sim Toolkit" technology, that is to say according to the known art, requires the development of 1) a "Sim Toolkit" application, which may be called "AppST", implemented on a smart card "SIM" and 2) another application, which we can call "AppOTA", implemented on a remote server, which we will call "OTA" (for " Over <I> The </ I> Air "). The application" AppST "responds to two events that are: <I>" Menu </ I> Selection "(menu selection) and" SMS PP Download "(download short messages).

When the application "AppST", receives the event <I> "Menu </ I> Selection", it sends to the mobile equipment a "pro-active" command called <I> "Select Item", </ I > that is to say the selection of a menu item (a service) among the n services offered.

The user chooses, for example, the service of arbitrary rank or index <I> i, </ I> or Service <I> i. </ I> An applet of the application "AppST" sends, in a command "pro active ", a short message to the application" AppOTA "telling him that the user requests the service <I> Service i. </ I>

The application "AppOTA" receives the short message from the application "AppST" and responds by returning the contents of <I> Service i </ I> in another short message.

When the application "AppST" receives the short message from the application "AppOTA", it sends a command "pro-active" type says "Display TexY" (text display) to display its contents on the mobile screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the preceding eight steps, according to the known art. Step 1: sending by the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment of <I> Menu </ I> Selection EvenP '<I> to < / I> the application "AppST '30'; Step 2: sending by the application "AppST" 30 'of "Select <I> Item" </ I> to the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1; Step 3: response of these circuits by sending <I> "Terminal </ I> response" to the application "AppST '30'; Step 4: sending by this one of "Send <I> SM (index i)" </ I> (send short message of index i) <I> to </ I> the application "AppST '30'; Step 5: sending by these "Short Msg <I> (index i)" </ I> (sending the short message of index r) to the application "AppOTA" 21 '; Step 6: response of this- and sending "Short Msg (Service <I>" i ")" </ I> (short message for the service of index "r") Step 7: sending by the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1 " SMS PP Download EvenY '<I> to </ I> the application "AppST' 30 '; and Step 8: sending by the application of" AppST' 30 'from "Display Text (Service" i ")" to the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1 for displaying the content of the short message associated with the index service "?" for displaying the content on a screen 11 of the mobile equipment 1.

The development of this same application, according to the method of the invention, is carried out as described below, with regard to FIG. 5.

Two "Sim Toolkit" applications constituted by "Java" applets are installed on the smart card 2: the first is the reporter application 21 which transmits the events received in short messages to a corresponding application or server master application 30M. The second is the slave application 22 which executes the orders of the master application 30M of the server 3.

It should be noted that the master application 30M of the server 3 plays the role of the two applications "AppST" and "AppOTA" of the known art described with reference to FIG.

Once this application 30M receives the event <I> "Menu </ I> Selection", it becomes the master of the application "Sim Toolkit" slave 22. It asks him first to transmit to the circuits 10 of the mobile equipment 1 the command "Pro-active" <I> "Select Item" </ I> above. When she receives the response from this command, she asks her again to execute the "pro-active" "Display TexY" command to display the selected service.

The method according to the invention, for the application described, now comprises twelve steps detailed hereinafter Step 1: sending by the circuits 10 of the mobile 1 of "Menu Selection Event" to the reporting application (this step is initiated by the mobile device user 1) <B> 1 </ B> Step 2: reply and send by the reporter application 21 "Send <I> SM </ I> <I> (Menu </ I> Selection) "(send a short menu selection message) to the circuits 10 of the mobile 1; Step 3: sending by the circuits 10 of the mobile 1 of <I> "SM (Menu </ I> Selection)" to the application 30M ("AppST" part of this application); Step 4: processing and sending by the 30M application of "SM (Select <I> Item)" </ I> to the circuits 10 of the mobile 1; Step 5: sending by these "SMS PP Download EvenP '<I> to </ I> the slave application 22; Step 6: processing by the slave application 22 and sending <I> "Select Item" </ I> to the circuits 10 of the mobile 1; Step 7: sending by the circuits 10 of the mobile 1 from <I> "Terminal </ I> Response <I> (index i)" to </ I> the slave application 22; Step 8: sending by the latter of "Send <I> SM (Index" </ I> to the circuits 10 of the mobile 1; Step 9: sending by the circuits 10 of the mobile 1 of "SM (selected <I> index </ I> <I> "i") "</ I> (short message for processing at index selected" i ") <I> at </ I> application 30M (part" AppOTA ") <I>; </ I> Step 10: Processing and sending by the application 30M of "SM (Display Text Service <I>" i ")" </ I> to the circuits 10 of the mobile 1; Step 11: sending by the latter of " SMS PP Download Event "<I> to </ I> the slave application 22; and Step 12: processing and sending" Display text <I> (Service "i") "</ I> to the circuits 10 of the mobile 1 , for displaying the contents of the short message.

The covering of the method according to the invention induces a slight increase in the traffic on the network, since the number of steps is greater for the same application. However, the main application associated with a specific service has been deported from the "SIM" smart card 2 to the server 3. It follows that the number of services is potentially no longer limited, since it is not no need to load as many applets on the smart card "SIM" 2. The resources in memory of the server 3 are indeed incomparably higher than those present in the smart card "SIM" 2. Similarly the processing speed is very large, because or the processors present on the server 3 are also much more powerful than those that can be implemented in the smart card "SIM" 2.

In addition, depending on the specific context in which it is located, a software application developer retains the possibility of optimally distributing the processing to be performed between the "SIM" smart card and the server 3, according to an advantageous additional aspect of the invention which has been explained.

To do this, some "SIM Toolkit" applications can be left on the "SIM" smart card 2. These applications work identically, or at least very similar, to known art applications.

According to another embodiment, permitted by the method of the invention, all or part of the slave applications 22 and / or rapporteurs 21 may be of the aforementioned hybrid type, that is to say, retain some autonomy. It follows that, in this case, part of the processing continues to be performed locally, which proportionally decreases the traffic between the "SIM" smart card 2 and the server (s) distant (s) 3.

Upon reading the above; it is easy to see how the invention achieves the goals it has set for itself.

It allows in particular to deport the "heavy" processing, large consumers of computing resources, on data processing systems (remote servers) having no limitations, at least significant limitations, including data storage means. In addition, the treatments can be performed at high speed because the calculation means present on these systems are also very fast and powerful.

According to another aspect of the invention, although the method according to the invention may involve a surplus of traffic, under certain conditions, this disadvantage can however be greatly minimized by optimizing part of the remote treatments and the part of the treatments remaining local, that is to say on the smart card "SIM" or any module acting as a function. As a result, the invention makes it possible to offer a virtually unlimited number of services without having to increase the amount given to be stored on the "SIM" smart card, or at least marginally.

It should also be understood that the aforementioned remote applications include "Sim Toolkit" applications themselves, but also associated data files. For example, it may be advantageous to deport the personal data of a user, what is usually called his "environment", on a remote server address book, list of telephone numbers, etc. Here again the size of these files becomes virtually unlimited.

Finally, it can be noticed that the invention has the advantage, when an update of one or more application (s) must be performed, if the one (s) is (are) ) implemented (s) on a remote server, this update can be performed by the operator in a very simple and fast, because centralized. In the case of standard "Sim Toolkit" applications, that is to say according to the known art, implanted on the smart cards, the same operation would require the modification of all the smart cards storing the applications to put up to date, that is to say most often their replacement.

It should be clear, however, that the invention is not limited to the only examples of embodiments explicitly described, particularly in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5.

Nor is it limited, as has been indicated, only to transmission protocols using short messages.

Finally, if it applies advantageously to GSM-standard telephony networks, other standards may be appropriate, and in particular the standards being developed: "GPRS", "UTMS", etc. In general, the invention finds application in each case using a mobile equipment cooperating with a chip card any similar embedded system, and that there is a separation between functions directly implemented in this embedded system and functions present in mobile equipment.

 It also allows interfacing with "WAP" type applications or performing functions of this type. For example, a master application, present on a remote server, can directly access the Internet network, at the request of the mobile equipment, without prior ironing by the mobile equipment. The result of the queries asked is then returned to the slave application, according to the process of the invention.

Claims (1)

<U> CLAIMS </ U> <B> 1. </ B> A method for transmitting and processing digital data over a mobile telephone network, said network comprising less mobile equipment and a remote server comprising means for processing data. information and data storage, communicating with each other via said mobile telephone network, said mobile equipment cooperating with an onboard electronic chip system comprising data processing and data storage means for storing at least software pieces type capable, at the same time, of controlling said mobile equipment by the issuing of determined commands and of reacting to events coming from this equipment by executing instructions associated with these said events, with a view to realizing functionalities associated with the least one predetermined application, characterized in that it comprises the implementation of at least a first pi this particular software (21), of a type called protractor, stored in said data storage means of said embedded electronic chip system (2 - 20), and the implementation of at least one piece of associated software (30M ) stored in said data storage means of one of said remote servers (3), in that said piece of reporter-type software (21) retransmits to said associated software piece (30M) characteristic data of said received events of said mobile equipment (1 10) and in that this associated piece of software (30M) executes, via said information processing means of said remote server (3), on receipt of said characteristic data, all or part of said associated instructions to one of said predetermined applications and retransmits results of said execution to said mobile equipment (1 <B> -10) </ B> and / or said onboard chip system onique (2 - 20). <B> 2. </ B> The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said embedded electronic chip system (2 - 20) being under the control of a specific operating system, said associated software piece (30M ) implemented on one of said remote servers (3) transmits said execution results in the form of commands sent directly to said operating system to perform a given operation and in that results of this operation are retransmitted to said associated software piece (30M). <B> 3. </ B> The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, said associated software pieces (30M) implemented on said remote servers (3) being of a type called master, it comprises the implementation of at least one particular piece of software (22), called a slave type, stored in said storage means of said embedded electronic chip system (2 - 20), in that each of said slave-type software pieces (22) receives commands of one of said associated master type software pieces (30M) and executes said commands via said information processing means of said on-board chip system (2 - 20), and in that said slave-type piece of software (22) retransmits results of said command execution to said associated master-type software piece (30M). <B> 4. </ B> The method according to claim 3, characterized in that said pieces of software of the types of reporter (21) and / or slave (22) are associated with an additional functionality, of a type called autonomous, so that these software pieces (21, 22) can execute directly on said embedded electronic chip system (2 - 20) a pre-established portion of said predetermined applications. <B> 5. </ B> A method according to claim 4, characterized in that said mobile telephone network obeys the so-called "GSM" standard and said software parts obey the "GSM 11.14" standard. <B> 6. </ B> The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, said telephony network comprising at least two distinct transmission channels, a so-called voice data channel and a message channel, said digital data. transmitted are constituted messages of a type said short comprising 140 bytes or 160 septets transmitted by said message channel. <B> 7. </ B> Embedded system equipped with an electronic chip comprising data processing and data storage means for storing at least software pieces of the type capable, at the same time, of controlling said mobile equipment by issuing determined commands and responding to events from said equipment by executing instructions associated with said events, in order to achieve features associated with at least one predetermined application, said on-chip electronic system cooperating with mobile equipment connected to a mobile telephone network, said mobile telephone network being connected with at least one remote server comprising data processing and data storage means communicating with said mobile equipment said mobile telephone network, characterized in that said embedded electronic chip system (2 -2 0) stores in its said data storage means at least a first piece of particular software (21), of a type called protractor, for retransmitting to an associated piece of software (30M), stored in said storage means of data from one of said remote servers (3), associated therewith, with characteristic data of said events received from said mobile equipment (1 - 10), so that said associated software piece (30M) executes, by the intermediate said information processing means of said remote server (3), on receipt of said characteristic data, all or part of said instructions associated with one of said predetermined applications and retransmit results of said execution to said mobile equipment (1 - 10) and / or said embedded chip system (2 - 20). <B> 8. </ B> Embedded electronic chip system according to claim 7, characterized in that said associated software pieces (30M) implemented on said remote servers (3) being of a master type, stores in its said data storage means at least a second particular piece of software (22), of a slave type, for receiving commands from one of said master software pieces (30M), associated therewith, to execute said commands via said information processing means of said on-board chip system (2-20), and retransmitting results of said command execution to said associated master type software piece (30M). <B> 9. </ B> Embedded electronic chip system according to claim 8, characterized in that said pieces of software of the types of protractor (21) and / or slave (22) are associated with an additional functionality, called autonomous, so that these pieces of software can execute directly on said embedded electronic chip system (2 a pre-established part of said predetermined applications. <B> 10. </ B> Embedded electronic chip system characterized in that it is constituted by a smart card of the type called "SIM" (2).